After hours of restless sleep Sansa woke to a room suffused in the soft glow of the sun, the melodic songs pAfter hours of restless sleep Sansa woke to a room suffused in the soft glow of the sun, the melodic songs of birds drifting in with the breeze. It wasn't long before two handmaidens arrived, pleasant smiles on their faces as they bid her good morning and offered her fruits and pastries to break her fast. They dressed her in a grey silk brocade gown, flowers of grey and white woven into the respectably cut bodice. The design was more akin to the Southern fashions, as was the rest of her new wardrobe. She wore light color on her lips and cheeks and a jasmine oil dabbed behind her ears and on her wrists. Her hair was curled into long tendrils, the sides pulled back from her face in a flattering manner and held in place by a silver direwolf comb.
When the time came to descend to the gardens Sansa found herself frozen with fright, staring intently at her reflection in the mirror. One of the handmaidens put a hand on her arm, a compassionate look in her eyes as she urged Sansa to take the first few steps out of the room. A trio of guards in green cloaks escorted her through the halls, the journey reinforcing the enormity of her new home. Every single bit of HIghgarden was lovely and pristine, so much more so than King's Landing or Winterfell. It was a kind of imperial beauty that she had never seen before, so indescribably elegant.
The walk to the garden felt like an eternity and nothing all at once, time moving in a peculiar fashion. The building anticipation made her heart race, her hands clasped together in front of her to keep them from trembling. As they stepped outside into the sunlight, Sansa took a deep breath and let the warmth wash over her. She stopped there, taking a moment to acknowledge how deeply her life was about to change. The precipice she stood before was vast and full of the unknown. There was no turning back from it.
Paved pathways took them to a large stone pavilion held up by giant carved pillars. In the center sat a table with a small group of people gathered around it, their faces coming into focus as she approached. Mace was easily recognizable, leaving just three other individuals. One of the two men stood beside a woman dressed in blues and golds, making the young man with the cane standing alone Willas Tyrell. He was dashing. The rumors around his accident had painted him in an unflattering light but that was not the case. He had the same chestnut colored hair as his siblings but shorter, curling slightly at the ends. She was a few yards away when she saw that his eyes were blue like her own, a kindness within them. Some of her apprehension fell away, a smile growing on her face. Etiquette and decorum had been her strong suits long before her time in the Capitol. 'This is where you excel, just be natural.' Her thoughts were interrupted by Mace's joyful voice singing out. "Ah, Sansa. Good morning, my dear daughter-to-be. Come come, meet my son and heir; Willas."
"Lady Sansa, it is an absolute honor to meet you at last." He took the hand she offered, his lips brushing her knuckles. "I know I am not the first, but let me officially welcome you to Highgarden. I dare say these castle walls have never seen such beauty as yours."
"My Lord, your words are too kind. The honor belongs to me." He was ever the gentleman, his smile authentic and warm. Outwardly he seemed to be everything a man of his stature should be. "This is my brother Garlan and his wife Leonette. Also, a newcomer to Highgarden. We have some time before the meal will be served, perhaps we could take a stroll around the garden? If that pleases you?"
Sansa nodded her head. "That sounds lovely." She accompanied him away from the pavilion and down an adjacent path trimmed lush greenery and flora. Along the way, they made polite small talk, Sansa's attention split between Willas and the unfamiliar environment around her. "I've never seen so many flowers in my life."
"Yes well, 'Growing Strong', they say. Though, I always assumed they meant the family, not millions of flowers. I'm ashamed to say I never took the time to learn any of the names. What do you think of the rest of Highgarden?"
"What little I've seen is magnificent." She answered plainly, curious to hear his response.
"Yes, I am sorry about that. Restricting your movements to the family residence makes it easier to keep you safe. I've done what I can to root out any disloyalty in Highgarden, but one can never be certain in such matters."
Sansa nodded, a touch of disappointment in her heart that seemed to carry into her voice. "I understand."
"As soon as the greatest threats have passed, I will personally show you every inch of Highgarden. I promise you are no one's captive here, my lady."
The pair entered a circular courtyard, an elaborate fountain depicting the Mother situated in the center. Sansa strolled forward, the soothing sound of moving water giving the courtyard a serene atmosphere. "I want to thank you." She said, turning to face him once again. "For everything. The depth of my gratitude is endless. You have truly saved my life."
"I did what any respectable man would have. You did not belong in that place. That much was clear. However, this is no small thing we set out to do together. It may not be received well by the Crown, or your family for that matter. I wish there was more time for us to know one another but at the moment, we hold the upper hand."
She smiled plaintively. "My mother hardly knew my father when they were married. The strangest of circumstances brought them together, but they grew to love one another. In the end, they were happy. That's all I want… A chance to find that." She looked up to meet his gaze, a redness rising to her cheeks.
"I swear to do everything in my power to help you, my lady."
"Please, call me Sansa. I believe we could do with a little lack of formality."
"How right you are. Now, I should probably get you back before I'm accused of monopolizing your company."
"Could they really blame you?"
They departed the courtyard, making their way back to the pavilion where a set table awaited them, laden with food filled dishes. Sansa ate little, her attention more focused on those around her. The conversation between them all flowed so naturally, absent of distrust or pretense like a proper family.
"Now that the lady Sansa has arrived, perhaps Willas will be inclined to venture forth from his library more often." Garlan said to Leonette, attempting to antagonize his brother. "Darling, I think you're onto something." Leonette answered, smiling at Sansa from across the table.
"Oh, not this again." Willas said, rolling his eyes at the pair. "Try not to take these two seriously, they're incapable of such feats of maturity."
"Brother, you wound me so." Garlan said, feigning offence and laughing. "Lady Sansa, tell us, what are your hobbies?"
"I enjoy needlepoint and sewing, but I must admit I occupied a great deal of my time in the Capitol with books."
"Oh dear, we might as well give up hope now." Leonette sighed dramatically, Garlan taking her hand. "Please Leonette, stop before you earn us another lecture."
"Now I'll have you two know that I've spent years collecting those books. I apologize Sansa, certain members of this family lack an appreciation for literature." Willas quipped back at his younger brother, who laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "He's not wrong." Sansa smiled in amusement, laughing along with Leonette.
"What a wonderful note to end on. Sansa, if you would accompany me there is somewhere I would like to show you."
"Of course." There was a hint of surprise in her voice but she wished the others farewell and followed Willas out of the garden with a group of guards trailing behind them. Most of the Tyrells of Highgarden were in King's Landing, giving the residence a vacant atmosphere. The cavernous halls were mostly devoid of life, save for the house staff and guard.
A silence hung between them, not entirely uncomfortable but noticeable. It gave Sansa a chance to clear her mind, until curiosity took over and she was more interested in their destination. "Am I to know where we're going?"
"If you'd like. I thought you might enjoy seeing the godswood. The three weirwoods are quite captivating and they receive very few visitors."
"The Three Singers, rumored to have been planted by Garth Greenhand, if I remember correctly." Only a handful of weirwoods remained outside of the North, most of them hidden away within Southern castles.
"So the legends say, though I suppose we'll never really know. Ah. Here we are."
Two doors stood open before them, a set of stairs leading down to an earthen pathway. A small pond shimmered in the distance surrounded by a grove of trees, not unlike the godswood in Winterfell. The heartrees wept red tears, their woeful faces eerily reflected on the surface of the water. They circled the pond until Sansa stood beneath the center tree, one hand stretched out to meet the coarse bark. The presence of the trees invoked the strangest sense of contentment and loneliness within her, reminding her that no matter how far she strayed, she always managed to find a piece of the north. "It's breathtaking… Thank you for bringing me here. It's very considerate of you."
"I must admit, it's Margaery who deserves the thanks. She mentioned your fondness for the Old Gods in our correspondences. You're welcome to come here as often as you like. Why don't I give you a few moments alone?"
"I would like that very much." Her voice was barely above a whisper, a stray tear betraying her constitution as she bowed her head. It had been over a moon's turn since she last communed with the Old Gods but her prayers were much the same. Sansa asked for strength and guidance, but above all else peace for her family in whatever form it might take.
Quite whispers drew her attention to Willas who stood on the opposite side of the pond beside a knight in a green cloak. She watched their exchange, taking note of the stern look in Willas' eyes. Sansa tilted her head as she approached, picking up a few words before they noticed her presence and the conversation came to an end. "Willas?"
"Troubling news from the Wall arrived this morning. I'm afraid it requires my immediate attention."
Sansa inhaled sharply, her shoulders stiffening. "My brother Jon is at the Wall."
Willas nodded his head. "I understand. As soon as I know what's happened I'll come directly to you. In the meantime, if you would like to stay here longer I can arrange for your guard to wait with you, or you could wait in the library."
"I think I would prefer the library, thank you."
"Well, let us be on our way then."
Sansa was led back through the way they had come, and headed in the direction that was vaguely familiar. "This way leads back to the residence. You'll have a proper tour in the coming days, but your guard will keep you from getting turned around." They approached a great door trimmed with iron flanked by a pair of guards.
Inside was one of the largest libraries Sansa had ever seen. She broke away from him at the nearest shelf, turning as she took in the room. "This is incredible..." The room was rectangular with soaring ceilings, tall windows carved out of the stone. A staircase led up to a second floor where more shelves and desks awaited.
"I've spent a great deal of time expanding our collections, amassing as many books as humanly possible. Perhaps they can keep you company whenever I'm away." Willas was beaming, unabashedly proud. Sansa nodded her head, a smile on her lips as she followed him down a short hallway to a spacious chamber with a wide desk and several elegant chaises. The wall opposite of them had the same tall arching windows and a set of doors that opened to reveal a small private garden, complete with its own small pavilion.
"This is my office, please come and go as you like." An auburn-haired knight appeared in the doorway, Willas turning to greet him. "Ah, perfect. Sansa, this is Sir Calen Vyrwel, the captain of your personal guard. If you require anything, simply ask.
I'll be back as soon as possible."
Sansa watched him leave, exchanging pleasantries with Calen as she meandered around the library. She returned to Willas' office with a book in hand, finding a place in the sun before diving into the book of traditional Dornish poetry, an hour or so passing before the door opened again. She'd grown quite tired and had closed her eyes for the briefest of moments when the sound of the door startled her enough to make her squeak in surprise.
"I apologize, I didn't mean to wake you." Willas smiled, but the glint of amusement in his eyes vanished as he took the seat beside her. "It would seem that Lord Commander Mormont led three – hundred sworn brothers beyond the Wall and they encountered resistance of some kind… They say wights fell upon them at the Fist of the First Men while they gathered information about a growing wildling horde. A dozen men survived the journey back. We're going to attempt to answer their ravens and establish a line of communication. There's a chance your brother remained behind at Castle Black, and I think you should reach out to him. The Lord Commander died beyond the Wall and it's unclear who's taken his place. Your brother may know more about what's happened. I believe you should compose letters for your mother and your brother Robb as well. Let them know that you were of sound body and mind before your wedding day."
"Robb is a traitor, as is my mother." Sansa's shoulders stiffened, an unintentional curtness in her voice that appeared anytime she was made to speak of her family. "What would you have me say to them?"
"I believe you misunderstand my intent. I do not wish to use you as a pawn Sansa. You may say whatever you like to them."
A tear rolled down her check, her brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand…" She felt the warmth of his hand on her shoulder, the physical contacting somewhat calming.
"You might remember that the Tyrells also stood in open rebellion against the King, and here we are. Treachery is relative. To speak frankly, I'm aware of the atrocities you faced in King's Landing and know that you did nothing to deserve such treatment. I want you to know that nothing like that will ever happen to you here. I will do everything in my power to make certain of it."
There were no words within her, the tears she'd been holding back streaming down her face. It was everything she wanted to hear and more but it was mortifying that Willas knew of the abuses she had suffered. Her hands desperately clutched the book in her lap as she took long deep breaths to still her heart.
"I'm truly sorry Sansa, I didn't mean to upset you. I can't imagine how this is difficult, but they're your family. I don't want you to look back and regret not taking this opportunity."
Her voice was meek, barely above a whisper. "I'll do it." He was right. She would never forgive herself if something were to happen to them and she'd let her chance slip by. She dried her face with the back of her hand, pulling herself together.
of birds drifting in with the breeze.